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n2:108443

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Sadlier <i>et al.</i> (2014)

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schema:datePublished

2014-01-01

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Sadlier <i>et al.</i> (2014)

dct:abstract

The relationships of species within Nannoscincus, a genus of diminutive fossorial skinks from New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific, are presented based on genetic information derived from the mitochondrial ND2 gene. The genetic study strongly supports the monophyly of the genus. It also supports the monophyly of a group of three taxa (N. gracilis, N. sleveni and N. garrulus) previously identified as the 'gracilis group: thus supporting earlier inferences of relationships between these taxa based on morphological characters. However, the taxonomy of the species included in the 'gracilis group' is confounded by the unexpected high level of genetic differentiation between regionally discrete populations of N. gracilis, and by a complete lack of differentiation between regionally parapatric but morphologically distinguishable N. gracilis and N. sleveni. There was minimal support from the genetic study for monophyly of the 'mariei group' as defined by morphological criteria in earlier studies, despite all included taxa possessing an impressive and unique suite of morphological apomorphies. Recognition of individual taxa within the 'mariei group: all previously identified on morphological criteria, was strongly supported by the genetic data which also identified two previously unrecognized lineages. One of these was formerly included under N. mariei, and is here considered conspecific with N. fuscus Gunther, previously regarded as a synonym of Anotis mariei Bavay. The other lineage is from the Massif de Koniambo in the north-west region ultramafic ranges and represents a morphologically cryptic taxon similar to N. hanchisteus. The extent of genetic sub-structuring in N. gracilis, and to a more limited extent within N. mariei and N. fuscus, is indicative of a pattern of historically long-standing regional fragmentation of forests across the Grande Terre, which is also reflected in a number of other moisture-dependent New Caledonian skink species.

bibo:abstract

The relationships of species within Nannoscincus, a genus of diminutive fossorial skinks from New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific, are presented based on genetic information derived from the mitochondrial ND2 gene. The genetic study strongly supports the monophyly of the genus. It also supports the monophyly of a group of three taxa (N. gracilis, N. sleveni and N. garrulus) previously identified as the 'gracilis group: thus supporting earlier inferences of relationships between these taxa based on morphological characters. However, the taxonomy of the species included in the 'gracilis group' is confounded by the unexpected high level of genetic differentiation between regionally discrete populations of N. gracilis, and by a complete lack of differentiation between regionally parapatric but morphologically distinguishable N. gracilis and N. sleveni. There was minimal support from the genetic study for monophyly of the 'mariei group' as defined by morphological criteria in earlier studies, despite all included taxa possessing an impressive and unique suite of morphological apomorphies. Recognition of individual taxa within the 'mariei group: all previously identified on morphological criteria, was strongly supported by the genetic data which also identified two previously unrecognized lineages. One of these was formerly included under N. mariei, and is here considered conspecific with N. fuscus Gunther, previously regarded as a synonym of Anotis mariei Bavay. The other lineage is from the Massif de Koniambo in the north-west region ultramafic ranges and represents a morphologically cryptic taxon similar to N. hanchisteus. The extent of genetic sub-structuring in N. gracilis, and to a more limited extent within N. mariei and N. fuscus, is indicative of a pattern of historically long-standing regional fragmentation of forests across the Grande Terre, which is also reflected in a number of other moisture-dependent New Caledonian skink species.

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2014-01-01

dct:bibliographicCitation

Sadlier, R. A., Bauer, A. M., Wood, P. L. J., Smith, S. A., Whitaker, A. H. &amp; Jackman, T. 2014. Cryptic speciation in the New Caledonian lizard genus <em>Nannoscincus</em> (Reptilia: Scincidae) including the description of a new species and recognition of <em>Nannoscincus fuscus</em> Günther. <em>In</em>: Guilbert, E., Robillard, T., Jourdan, H. &amp; Grandcolas, P. [Eds]. <em>Zoologica Neocaledonica 8. Biodiversity studies in New Caledonia</em>. Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris: 45-68.